Dr Nicola Byrom

Their wellbeing affects our wellbeing: student perspectives of lecturer wellbeing and its consequences for student wellbeing - Higher Education A “whole university approach” has been recommended for addressing concerns about the wellbeing of UK university lecturers and students. Previously, staff wellbeing has been explored from staff…

Universities should focus on manageable workloads, small class sizes, and fewer admin tasks to protect lecturer wellbeing, benefiting the whole academic community. Study: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #HigherEdLeadership

Positive affective skills—like active listening & non-judgmental support—are central to effective mental health training for faculty. Read insights:

Academics on healthcare courses often feel torn between two roles: teacher and clinician.
But these blurred lines also reflect deep care.
Your skills, empathy and instincts matter — especially when students don’t know where else to turn.

Improving reporting standards in quantitative educational intervention research: introducing the CLOSER and CIDER checklists - Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research In educational research, the complexity of interventions and the diversity of contexts challenge the adequacy of existing reporting standards, primarily tailored for health interventions and…

🌍 Educational interventions often vary across contexts. CLOSER and CIDER promote transparent reporting, making research findings easier to apply in diverse settings. Learn more:

Critics warn PHQ-9 promotes "value capture"—reducing personal distress to oversimplified metrics. Full discussion: www.cambridge.org/core/service... #PhilosophyOfScience

Frontiers | Student perspectives on their digital footprint in virtual learning environments The prevalence of mental distress among young adults, including those at university, has increased. In this context, learning analytics, students’ digital tr...

Personalized support or unwanted surveillance? Students show a mixed preference for how their digital footprints should be used. Details here:

Their wellbeing affects our wellbeing: student perspectives of lecturer wellbeing and its consequences for student wellbeing - Higher Education A “whole university approach” has been recommended for addressing concerns about the wellbeing of UK university lecturers and students. Previously, staff wellbeing has been explored from staff…

Students recognize a reciprocal cycle: Happy, engaged lecturers lead to better student engagement & outcomes. This highlights the need for holistic wellbeing strategies. Article: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #EducationReform

Faculty training focuses on recognizing mental health distress, building supportive interactions, & promoting wellbeing. Full scoping review: www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1... #HEILeadership

Healthcare academics often carry dual responsibilities.
They care deeply about their students' wellbeing 💙
But they also have a duty to ensure patient safety 🏥
Sometimes these roles can feel in conflict.
But they share a common goal: keeping people safe, seen, and supported.

Read more evidence-based insights at 👉 www.unismart.org.uk/papers
#StudentMentalHealth #HigherEd #WholeUniversityApproach

that support services are only one part of the picture. Mental health is shaped by belonging, inclusion, housing, finances, relationships, and academic pressure.

We need to stop framing this as a crisis of individuals — and start designing universities that support wellbeing from the ground up.

to remember that the young people at university today are the people who had their adolescent years profoundly disrupted by the COVID lockdowns and the decision to shut schools. There were stark warnings at the time about the impact this would have on youth mental health.

Our research shows

Should student mental health responsibility fall to universities? The number of students reporting mental health concerns is rising. But to what extent should the onus be on universities?

🧵The BBC highlights a rise in student mental health issues. But there's more to this story.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Yes, demand for support is growing. But students aren’t “less resilient” — they’re facing real structural pressures, and they’re asking for better systems.

It is important

A novel conceptual model identifies how universities can support student Quality of Life (QoL), from fostering social connections to managing pressures. Details:

Scales like PHQ-9 can inadvertently shape experiences, termed "looping effects" by anthropologists. Implications: www.cambridge.org/core/service... #CulturalCritique

Improving reporting standards in quantitative educational intervention research: introducing the CLOSER and CIDER checklists - Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research In educational research, the complexity of interventions and the diversity of contexts challenge the adequacy of existing reporting standards, primarily tailored for health interventions and…

📄 CIDER provides a structured approach to describing educational interventions—detailing content, delivery, timing, and evaluation—making interventions easier to replicate. Full checklist here:

Many healthcare lecturers feel pulled between being an educator and a health professional.
But that dual identity can be a strength.
You know how to listen, support, and signpost — and that can make all the difference. 💙

Compassionate Campus | Nurture-U By Tabatha Sherborne

Belonging isn’t built in lecture halls alone.
Students find community in their accommodation, local towns, and shared lived experiences.
Compassionate campuses meet them where they are 👉

Their wellbeing affects our wellbeing: student perspectives of lecturer wellbeing and its consequences for student wellbeing - Higher Education A “whole university approach” has been recommended for addressing concerns about the wellbeing of UK university lecturers and students. Previously, staff wellbeing has been explored from staff…

Lecturer wellbeing affects teaching styles, availability, & interactions. Good lecturer wellbeing makes them approachable, improving students' academic experience.
Full study: link.springer.com/article/10.1... #UniversityTeaching

Compassionate Campus | Nurture-U By Tabatha Sherborne

“Being heard” is more than letting students speak.
It’s responding, adapting, and showing care in every interaction—from assessment extensions to pastoral support.
Learn more 👉

Please could More or Less do a little more to unpack what contributions that unskilled migrants might make to the economy. Especially in relation to taking on care work and freeing up highly skilled women to re-enter the workforce.

I’m always nervous about the comparison between skilled and unskilled migrants. As we tend to think skilled migration is good… unskilled is bad. But I think the research suggests that unskilled migrants are unlikely to take jobs that locals are / would do and fill gaps in the workforce…

In his book, Good Economics for Hard Times I think Abhijit Banerjee explains that skilled migrants are more likely to take work from local people. So while they may individually be a net contributor, that doesn’t consider that a local resident might have done that job. Importantly…

Just listened to @timharford.ft.com chatting to @msumption.bsky.social from the @migobs.bsky.social talking about the positive contribution of skilled migrants to the economy on BBC Radio 4 More or Less. I’m not sure it is so simple…

The RAKSHAKA framework organizes training themes: resources, affective skills, distress recognition, severity analysis, health promotion & more. Details: www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1... #EducationFramework

Improving reporting standards in quantitative educational intervention research: introducing the CLOSER and CIDER checklists - Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research In educational research, the complexity of interventions and the diversity of contexts challenge the adequacy of existing reporting standards, primarily tailored for health interventions and…

✅ CLOSER helps researchers report the entire research journey—from abstract to discussion—ensuring clarity on study aims, methods, outcomes, and limitations. Explore its benefits:

University students prioritize balance—juggling academics, personal growth, and social life defines their Quality of Life (QoL). Insights here:

Compassionate Campus | Nurture-U By Tabatha Sherborne

Compassion starts with culture.
That means inclusive teaching, visible diversity, flexible processes—and listening to feedback with action.
Explore the roadmap 👉

Seeking support for an eating disorder: a qualitative analysis of the university student experience—accessibility of support for students - Journal of Eating Disorders Background While there is increased concern around mental health problems in universities, the experience of students with eating disorders (EDs) has received less attention. This is problematic as the...

Disclosing an eating disorder is tough for students, with stigma and fear of judgment adding to the challenge. Support systems must address these barriers compassionately. Read more:

Cross-cultural studies show emotions vary greatly, yet psychiatric scales enforce Western definitions. Read the full critique: www.cambridge.org/core/service... #Anthropology